How to handle Fall Festival and OCAF Wine Fest in one weekend


I had a truly wonderful time at both events in downtown Watkinsville this weekend.  The fall festival and the wine fest are two separate events, at two neighboring locations, and I doubt I was the only one to try to do both these weekend at Rocket Field and Ashford Manor.

The highlights of the fall festival were very  many and too numerous to mention, but here I go:

1. finally meeting Officer Berisko of the Oconee County Animal Shelter,

2. seeing Amanda Jane and having the lovely cheesecake cupcakes of her new business partner Bonnie at Little Cuckoo Chocolate booth,

3. having a crepe or two from Saphir and Kate at Holy Crepe,

4. meeting the husband and dad of my favorite Oconee County Animal Adoption people (thanks for Katrina),

5. finally meeting the wife of my favorite Oconee Enterprise journalist,

6. talking to random people I sat with including a very nice redhead who was attending with her parents and seemed to actually like Democratic people and wine,

7. hugging Sharon Dahlhaus and Trae Steward of Kumquat Mae,

8. hugging Arkhive's BrittnyTeree Smith,

9. finally seeing Ashley Revell in person and always amazed at the vast quantities of wine she brings from 5 Points Bottlers,

10. surviving a fall on the corner of Katie and Jeremy Drive (never walk fast with a 75 pound pitbull pulling toward an imaginary squirrel while trying to balance an Amazon Kindle in one hand and a leash in the other),

11. watching the Walking Dead with my son, and

11. of course the Canopy people including Hilary Schroeder and Kat Jewell Saxon performing at the stage area at Ashford Manor.

12.  Trying wines that I otherwise would have never sampled

13. Seeing the newest Watkinsville resident, but understanding he will be moving to Portland soon.



Canopy had three performances and I only stuck around for the first two.

There was a thirty degree temperature swing whether you are in the shade or sun.

Congratulations to Cindy Farley and OCAF, as well as the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce for pulling off both of these important events.

The logistics and execution of these events are almost always amazing and seldom recognized by the local media, so I will take this opportunity to thank everyone involved, and have nothing but respect for all those who worked many long hours with little or no recognition for said events and the many hours planning for the big weekend.

While the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation and the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce are not the same institutions, they share many members and are to be commended for working together to make sure the Fall Festival and the Wine Fest came off seemlessly, and they did.


 Here are a few suggestions for future festivals:

1. Sidewalks are needed on Simonton Bridge and Harden Hill - as quickly as possible, - and I realize it could be another decade before it happens.

2. Traffic calming devices are needed on Main Street and Simonton Bridge Road.

3. More ATV and other four wheel vehicles including possible Sequeways and other scooter like vehicles are needed for all rescue services.

4. More cooperation with Watkinsville police, Oconee County Sheriff, Georgia Highway Patrol (State Troopers) and more.

5.  Bike paths should be included in all suburban planning from now on, especially off the shoulders on the busier roads (meaning not bike lanes on the sides of the roads).

6. Make sure all the ribbon is picked up.

7. Thanks to Mayor Ivie and his wife Carol for volunteering at Ashford Manor.





















1. Hydrate
2. Wear comfortable shoes and extra thick socks
3. Don't try to go everywhere and eat everything
4. Plan to do things you haven't planned for
5. Expect to meet plenty of new people
6. Find that one business with those people you have been wanting to meet
7. Eat from that one restaurant that you have been avoiding for whatever reason
8. Go early, stay late, take breaks, attend at non-peak and peak times
9. Be first in line whenever possible
10. Find the shortest line
11. If you are not amongst the first in line, start at the end and work your way back
12. Decide what you want early (wine, kettle corn, art, shade, etc.) and know all variables and alternatives.
13. Find the "off the beaten path" locations
14. Seek and ye shall find
15. Have a budget and spend it
16. Never over consume
17. Get a ride or walk if you do have too much to drink or eat
18. Pace yourself
19. Walk your dog
20. Adopt a dog

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